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Even his manager, Jurgen Klopp, has hinted at “issues.” Rightly or wrongly, the coverage has given a perception that Sturridge doesn’t want to play, it has pushed the rumour mill into overdrive and been incredibly hurtful and painful for the striker.

Just for a moment think about coming into work each day with major question marks hanging over your head. Would you really want to be treated like that?

As if the injuries weren’t bad enough, now people are getting at his mentality as well. Some of the rumours are just crazy. We’ve all seen them. They’re ridiculous and wrong.

But the problem is they go round, get embellished, even a grain of truth becomes exaggerated and gets turned into fiction. And often, for any player, when it’s your own fans who are gossiping and getting on your back then it seems much worse.

The atmosphere has become overwhelming and energy sapping. Sturridge is not some sort of weak individual. He’s driven his career from a young age, showing ambition to leave Manchester City, then to Chelsea and onto Liverpool to play regularly.

If ever you needed proof that all Sturridge wants to do is to play then that’s it. Some players do play with all sorts of injuries and knocks. Others have injuries you can’t play with. And others want to be fit enough, strong enough and sharp enough to do themselves justice on the pitch.

Blow: Sturridge has barely played over the last two seasons (Photo: Clive Brunskill)

It must be a pretty horrible feeling going onto a pitch wondering if a muscle will pop or a hamstring will pull. You can’t put in 100 per cent. But all Sturridge wants to do is play. To question otherwise is just laughable.

The really difficult part of this story is that his fitness and career has become such a talking point because he is such a good player.

England boss Roy Hodgson regards him as the most talented player of his squad. Hodgson wants to name Sturridge in his 40-strong group for the get-together at St George’s Park next Thursday.

Hodgson is desperate to have Sturridge fit for the Euros this summer. He will wait on Sturridge and Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere even though they have missed much of the season because they are special talents.

There have been wonderful, teasing and tantalising glimpses of Sturridge’s talent this season, such as his brilliant performance for Liverpool in their 6-1 thrashing of Southampton in the Capital One Cup two months ago.

Star: Sturridge celebrates after scoring against Southampton earlier this season (Photo: Getty)